Linoleum and asphalt tile remover



Aug. 22, 1950 T. c. RUSH 2,520,065

LINOLEUM AND ASPHALT TILE REMOVER Filed Dec. 6, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Thomas 6 Rush Attorneys Aug. 22, 1950 T. c. RUSH 2,520,065

LINOLEUM AND ASPHALT TILE REMOVER Filed Dec. 6, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3. 40

Inventor Thomas 6. Rush Patenled Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LINOLEUM AND ASPHALT TILE REMOVER Thomas 0. Rush, Mansfield, Mo.

Application, December 6, 1948, Serial N0. 63, 655

3' Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a linoleum and asphalt tile remover and more specifically pertains to a surface scraper for floors or other surfaces.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a scraper which shall be portable, compact, easily adjusted to control the action of the scraper blades, readily accessible for inspection or repair of the scraper elementsyand which shall incorporate within its construction provision permitting the scraper blades to yield when encountering an obstacle.

, An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a scraper for surfaces such as floors or the like comprising a portable supporting base upon which is mounted an electric motor or other prime mover together with an overhanging bracket means, for supporting for rotation upon a transverse horizontal axis, a scraping rotor.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a hinged or pivoted guard for encasing the upper'portion of the rtor,and which may be hinged upwardly to obtain easy access to the parts for inspection or repair.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a journaling means for the rotor which will permit easy vertical adjustment of either or both ends of the rotor shaft.

A most important feature of the invention resides in the rotor construction itself which consists of a shaft having longitudinally and circumferentially spaced pairs of radial arms rigidly secured thereto, together with a scraper blade pivoted between each pair of arms whereby the blade will rotate with the shaft and will have pivotal movement relative to the shaft.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a construction as set forth in the foregoing feature, wherein the center of gravity of the blade will be offset from the radius ex-. tending from the axis of the shaft to the pivot of the blade, whereby the blade will be yieldingly urged aboutits pivot in a direction for increase ing the radial distance of the knife edge of the scraper blade from the shaft, and abutment means being provided for limiting this pivotal movement.

An additional feature of the invention resides in the provision of a scraper blade construction for a rotor wherein each blade consists of asub-v stantially triangular shaped plate, one edge of which is pivoted at its upper end to the radial supporting arms of theshaft and the lower edge of which constitutes or carriesa knife edge; and wherein a further side of the triangular plate extendsv from the knife edge upon an incline which is. directed laterally inwardly of the shaft, from the knife edge, and wherein the third side of the blade is provided with a clearance or cut away portion to provide a recess to permit the blade to pivot towards the shaft in order that the blade may yield when encountering an obstacle.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects. of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure '1 is a side elevational view of one form or embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3, is a vertical transverse sectional detail viewthrough the rotor portion of the apparatus, and is taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational View of the novel rotor forming a part of this invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 5-5 of Figure '4 and showing the construction and arrangement ofthe blades or plates of the rotor;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional detail view takensubstantially upon the plane ofthe'section lined-6 of Figure 1 and illustrating the manner of adjustably attaching the rotor bearings to the support brackets of the device; and,

Figure? is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating more clearly-the mannerof attaching the scraper blade tothe shaft, the 'constructionof the blade, and its position relative to the shaft during operation of the device.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar-parts throughout the various views,

attention is directed first to Figures 1 and 2 wherein the numeral l0 indicates a supporting base which may be of a portable nature as shown, being provided with a rear caster wheel [2- and front wheels 14, whereby the device may be readily moved ormanipulated, ahandle 96 of any suitable type being secured to the base I0.

Detachably fastened to the base It as by bolts It or the like, is a prime mover or power source Zllof any suitable type which may conveniently comprise an electric motor, which is provided with a customary driving means such as a pulley and belt'22, whereby a blade rotor assembly indicated generally by the numeral 24- may be operated.

As so far described, the device resembles in construction and general operation a conventional form of floor sander or other abrasive surface treating apparatus.

As shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2, the supporting base in is provided with a pair of transversely spaced, parallel plates 26 which extend from and overhang one end of the base if! and which are rigidly attached thereto as by Welding or the like .28. These plates constitute supporting brackets between which is supported and journaled for rotation the rotor 24.

For this purpose, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and v 6, each of the plates 26 has secured to the inner side thereof as by adjusting screws 30, a bearing member 32 which supports an end of a shaft 34 upon which the rotor 24 is formed and journaled for rotation.

' As will be best seen by reference to Figure 1, the plates 26 are provided with elongated, vertically disposed slots 36 through which pass the fastening bolts 30, whereby the bolts together with the journal members 32. carried thereby may be vertically raised or lowered relative to the brackets 26 and consequently relative to the surface over which the device moves and which is to be scraped or otherwise treated by the device.

It should be here noted that each end of the shaft 34 is thus independently capable of vertical adjustment, thereby greatly facilitating the adaptability of the device to surfaces which are to be treated.

Hinged to the rear upper portions of the support plates or brackets 28, as by means of hinge pins 38, is a substantially semi-cylindrical shield or guard 4G, which extends forwardly from the 1- hinge pins 38 and is adapted to overlie and enclose the upper portion of the rotor 24, thereby forming a shield or guard to prevent engagement of the rotor with any surface or object other than the surface to be treated beneath the rotor,

to touch particles of the surface abraded or removed by the rotor during its operation, and the like.

-As will be best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the shaft 34 is provided with a pulley 42 for the reception of the driving belt 22, whereby the rotor may be turned by the prime mover 20.

Attention is next directed more particularly to Figures 3 and 4 where it will be seen that the shaft 34 has a plurality of pairs of radially extending axially spaced arms 44, these pairs of arms being likewise spaced circumferentially of the shaft at even angular intervals thereabout as indicated in Figure 5. Obviously, any desired number of these pairs of arms may be provided, it being merely intended that a plurality of scraper elements be carried by these arms in a compact and convenient manner for successively operating upon the surface to be scraped.

The arms 44 may be rigidly secured as by welding or the like to shaft 34, or may be integrally formed thereon as desired. Between the arms of each pair of arms, is pivotally mounted a scraper which may conveniently take the form of a substantially triangular plate 46, whereby these blades or plates are rotatable with the shaft 34,

but are pivotally movable circumferentially thereof for a purpose and in a manner to be subsequently apparent.

Referring now more particularly to Figure '7, it will be seen that the blade 46, which may comprise a flat blade or the like is provided with three edges 48, 50 and 52, and at the junction of the edges 48 and 50 provides a knife edge or scraper blade 54 which is intended to scrape or otherwise treat the surface with which the device is to be employed.

Adjacent its upper end, and also adjacent the edge 48, the blade 46 is pivotally connected between the pair of arms 44 as by a pivot pin 56, whereby the blade may be pivoted circumferentially about the shaft 34 about its pivot pin 56. The upper edge 52 of the blade is provided with a recessed or cut away portion 58 which constitutes a clearance receiving the shaft 34, to thereby permit clockwise pivotal movement of the blade 46 about its pivot pin 56 and towards the shaft 34, as viewed in Figure 1.

Preferably the center of gravity of the blade is such that the same is positioned to one side of the pivot-pin 56, and preferably at the opposite side thereof from the position of the knife edge 54 of the blade. By this means, centrifugal force during rotation of the rotor shaft 34 will cause the blade 46 to pivot about its pivot pin '55 in such a direction that the knife edge 54 will tend to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot pin 56.

The lower edge 50 of the triangular plate is inclined radially inwardly from the knife edge 54 so that pivotal movement of the blade about the pivot pin 56 will move the knife edge 54, which is at the radially furthest point from the shaft 34, either inwardly or outwardly with respect to the shaft, whereby as will be seen from Figure l, the depth of penetration of the knife edge into the surface to be treated or scraped, will be varied.

The centrifugally caused pivotal movement of the blade will be limited by a stop member which is welded or otherwise secured to the front edge 48 of the blade 46, this stop member being on the opposite side of the pivot pin 56 from the center of gravity of the blade, and which stop member is adapted to abut the shaft 34 to thereby limit counter-clockwise pivotal movement of the blade as viewed in Figure 7. It will thus be seen that the blade 46 is limited in its counterclockwise pivotal movement, under the urge of centrifugal force, by engagement of the abutment 60 with the shaft 34; and in its clockwise pivotal movement is limited by engagement of recess 58 with the shaft 34.

..-The arrangement is such that during rotation of the shaft, centrifugal force will urge the blade into position for radially extending the knife edge 54 to its greatest extent, this greatest extent being limited by engagement of the abutment 60 with the shaft 34. However, when the blade strikes an obstruction, encountered during its scraping action over the surface to be treated, the blade may be pivoted in a reverse direction, against the effective centrifugal force, whereby the blade will yield and could thereby prevent damage to the mechanism.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device together with its advantages will be readily understood and further explanation is deemed to be unnecessary.

However, it is particularly contemplated that the device may be employed, much in the nature ofa floor sander, for digging up linoleum or asphalt tiles which require replacing, or otherwise abrading or cutting the surface of the floor as desired. Conveniently,-the center of gravity of the entire apparatus may be outwardly of the front wheels [4, whereby the weight of the scraper will tend to cause the same to rest upon the surface to be treated in operative position for scraping the same. However, the center of gravity may if desired be backwardly of the front wheels I4, whereby it is necessary to tilt the apparatus about the wheels M by means of the handle IS, in order to cause the scraper to engage. In addition, the belt and pulley drive may be located on the outside of the members 26 by extending the axles of the shaft 34 therethrough for ease of access and servicing of the pulley.

The invention is not to be considered as limited by the exact construction of the apparatus or embodiment as illustrated and described in the foregoing description, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed and described the invention, what is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A surface scraper including a supporting base, a rotor and means for operating said rotor, said rotor comprising a shaft journaled on said base for rotation about a transverse horizontal axis, a plurality of blades secured to said shaft for rotation therewith and for pivotal movement thereon, each blade having a knife edge and its center of gravity offset from the radius of the shaft extending through the pivot of the blade whereby centrifugal force will yieldingly urge the blade in a direction to move the knife edge outwardly from the shaft and a stop to limit said outward movement of the blade, each plate being pivoted between a pair of radial arms carried by said shaft, each blade comprising a substantially triangular plate having the terminals of one side connected to the pivot of said arms and carrying said knife edge, another side being inclined inwardly toward said shaft from the knife edge and the third side being cut away to provide clearance for said shaft during pivotal movement of the blade.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stop comprises an inwardly extending abutment member carried by said first mentioned side of said blade.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said abutment member is on the opposite side of the blade pivot from the center of gravity.

THOMAS C. RUSH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,415,949 Perelman May 16, 1922 1,489,157 Sandblom Apr. 1, 1924 1,518,505 Gray Dec. 9, 1924 2,009,500 Kramer July 30, 1935 2,245,544 Miller June 10, 1941 2,279,922 Kraner Apr. 14, 1942 

